No fewer than 30 million Nigerian schoolchildren and 500,000 public primary school teachers are expected to benefit from the Federal Government’s new $552.18 million HOPE-EDU Programme, unveiled as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes and strengthen the country’s basic education system.
The programme, launched in Abuja, is one of five flagship initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is jointly funded by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described education as the cornerstone of the administration’s human capital development strategy.
He said the HOPE-EDU Programme is designed to improve access to quality education while strengthening teaching and learning across public primary schools nationwide.
According to the minister, about 30 million children enrolled in public primary schools are expected to benefit directly from the intervention.
He added that the programme will also provide professional development and capacity-building for 500,000 public primary school teachers, equipping them with modern teaching skills to improve classroom learning.
Alausa said more than 65,000 public primary schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would benefit from improved teaching resources and enhanced education management systems.
He explained that the programme would focus on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy among pupils through a results-based financing model.
The minister noted that the initiative is expected to improve learning outcomes, increase accountability and enhance service delivery in the education sector.
According to him, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education regardless of location.
He said investment in education remains one of the most effective ways of reducing poverty, promoting economic growth and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.
Alausa also reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to providing policy direction, coordination and oversight to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
He said the ministry would continue to collaborate with state governments, development partners and other stakeholders to maximise the impact of the intervention.
The minister described the programme as a major investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that improving foundational education is essential to national development.
He added that the initiative would strengthen education management systems and improve governance within the basic education sector.
The programme is expected to support efforts to build a more skilled and productive workforce capable of driving sustainable economic growth.
The HOPE-EDU Programme is one of five World Bank-backed flagship initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to accelerate human capital development, reduce poverty and advance the implementation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Ministry of Education said it remains committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the programme to deliver improved learning outcomes for millions of Nigerian children and strengthen the country’s education system.
